Prefabricated steel building



April 17, 1956 w, 0. BEHLEN 2,742,114

PREFABRICATED STEEL BUILDING Filed Dec. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Walter D. Beh/en INVENTOR.

April 17, 1956 w. D. BEHLEN 2,742,114

PREFABRICATED STEEL BUILDING Filed Dec. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O O O O O o O O O O O O O O O O O O O Waller 0. Ben/en INVENTOR.

April 17, 1956 w. D. BEHLEN PREFABRICATED STEEL BUILDING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 Waller 0. Bah/en INVENTOR.

Almaty:

BYQ w 2,742,114 PREFABRICATED STEEL BUILDING Walter D. Behlen, Columbus, Nebr., assignor to Behicn Manufacturing Co., Columbus, Nebr., a corporation of Nebraska Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 198,947

8 Claims. (Ci. 139-=-1) a plurality of story height panels which are secured together in a unique manner so as to add to the strength of the building Without increasing the Weight of metal used in constructing the building. e

.A further object of this invention is to provide a metallic building construction that includes a plurality of panels each of which is formed with a longitudinally disposed trough-shaped portion having the end and side portions bolted together to rigidify the innermost surface of the Walls and rooms so as to provide an extremely rigid and strong construction which is able to withstand extreme pressures.

Yet another object of this invention resides in the provision of roof panels each having longitudinally disposed trough-like portions which are adapted to be positioned in alignment with similar trough-like portions of the wall panels whereupon the entire structure becomes a series of rigid and continuous corrugated panels, each extending in an arch-like manner from the base of a panel, up the wall, overthe roof and down the opposite Wall to the opposite base. Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a novel wall panel which is adapted to be secured in position without necessitating bolting or other separate means of uniting. Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a prefabricated steel building that has exceptional strength characteristics without internal reinforcement, which is simple in construction and manufacture, which andattractive appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of theinvention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, byway of example only, wherein:

"-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building constructed in accordance with the concept of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the construction of the building comprising the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail showing the construction of the wall panels used in the present invention;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail showing the construction of the caves in the building; and

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing the construction 2,742,114 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 of the panelsjand thetjoints formed between adjoining panels used in the present invention.- w 1 i.

- With continuing reference to the accompanying draw ings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the various views, reference'numeral 10 gen erally designates agbuilding,constructed innaccordance with the concept of the present invention which includes end walls as indicated at 12 and side Walls as indicated at14.

The end and side walls aretformedfrom a'plurality oi panelsections 16,,each of whichconsists of a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion and on either side thereof half of a ridgeportion 20. When the panels 16 are mounted together the half ridge portions combine to'forrn a whole ridge portion 22 equal and opposite to the trough portions 18, the entire construction becoming a corrugated wall. At the connection joint, as 24, each part 20 of the ridge portion 22 is provided along the mar: ginal edge thereof with depressed portions, as indicated at 26 and 28. These depressions provide an interlock be tween the wall panels which are attached by bolts 30, or the like.

However, the unique manner of constructing both the surface of the panel 16 and the relative: depths of the troughs 18 and ridges 22 should be noted since theseare considerations essential .to; the unusual strength therein achieved. i q Accordingly, the depth of each ridge 22 or trough 18 relative to the width of a panel section 1.6 has been increased over normal andpresent conventional corrugations since thereby, the strength ofa panel may be greatly increased. i

Further, as seen in Figure 3, the surface of the entire panel 16 is formed by bending the panel along transversely spaced longitudinally extending lines, as 32, resulting in a broken or uneven surface.

These foregoing features add strength to each panel section to such extent that each panel assumes characteristics equivalent to an I-beam. Y

A plurality of roof panels as indicated at 34 are constructed identically to the. panel 16. These roof panels are positioned diagonally and are provided with trough and ridge portions,36 and38, interlocking depressions 37 and 39, respectively. The manner in which these roof panels 34 are joined to the panels 16 adds more than any other single factor to the strength of the present construction. This .novel attachment comprises aligning eachof the troughs and ridges 36 and 33, respectively of the roof panels 34 with the corresponding trough and ridges 18 and 22, respectively, of the side panels 16 so as to create a continuously extending trough or ridge from the base, as at 40, atone side of the building up to the cave, as 42, slanting up the roof to the peak, as 44, down to the other eave, as 46, and finally vertically down to the opposing base, as 48. To effect such continuity of troughs and ridges, a special joint between the panels 16 and 34 has been provided. 1

Referring to Figure 4 and considering the upper edge 50 of the section 16,,it will be noted that the same is formed by passing a plane through the corrugated panel sections at some convenient angle. The lower edge 52 of the corresponding roof section 34 is cut in like manner by passing a plane along the line complementary to the edge 50, thereby permittingthe roof and side panels to be joined While retaining a continuous ridge or trough as the case may be. The actual cave line, as 42, is intermediate the edges 50 and 52 since overlapping flanges 56 and 58 are provided to allow connection by bolts 60, or the like. 1

At the peak or apex 44 of the roof sections a similar construction 'to the eaves is provided whereby each slanting' roof panel 34 has flanges 62 and 64 secured in overlapping continuous relationship to each other by bolts 66, or the like.

It is believed evident that the foregoing description has described and developed an exceedingly strong and rigid building construction having the unusual feature of not requiring any internal bases, tierods, beams, columns, or other similar reinforcing means but rather by the unusual cooperation andcoaction effected between the roof and wall panels, the structure itself is constructed to Withstand both internal and external stresses of a great amount.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages of this metallic building construction are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit theinvention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A metallic building construction comprising oppositely disposed side walls, said walls including a plurality of panels each having a trough-shaped central portion and laterally disposed half ridge porti'ons,,a plurality of angularly disposed roof panels, each of said roof panels having a trough-shaped central portion and laterally disposed half ridge portions, the central portions of said roof panels being in alignment with the central portions of said wall panels, said roof panels being provided with downwardly extending flanges at one end thereof, the flanges being secured in overlying engagement to said wall panels.

2. A frameless metallic building construction comprising vertically disposed straight side walls, angularly disposed roof sections joined to said side walls, said walls and said roof sections being composed of identically contoured panels each of said panels including a central longitudinally extending trough, upstanding semi-ridges at each side of said trough, said panels being joined together to form wall and roof sections of alternate ridges and troughs, said wall and roof sections being bevelled at an angle intermediate the meeting angle whereby said sections meet at a continuous eaves line.

3. A frameless metal building comprises spaced substantially parallel vertically disposed side walls, angularly disposed roof sections joined to said walls, said walls and said roof sections being constituted of panels of identical cross-section, each panel including a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion, a half ridge portion disposed on each side of said trough portion, the troughs of said roof sections meeting the troughs of said wall sections in alignment, the meeting edges of the wall and roof sections being cut to a common plane at a median angle between the meeting angle of the roof and wall, said meeting edges being flanged in overlapping relation, said overlapping flanges being secured together.

4. A frameless metal building comprising wall sections and angularly disposed roof sections, said sections being constructed of sheet metal panels, each panel including a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion, a half ridge portion on each side of said trough portion, said panel having a plurality of longitudinally extending crimp lines, the portion of the panel between the crimp lines being plane, the plane sections being angularly disposed to each other.

5. A frameless metal building comprising wall sections and angularly disposed roof sections, said sections being constructed of sheet metal panels, each panel including a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion, a half ridge portion on each side of said trough portion, said panel having a plurality of longitudinally extending crimp lines, the portion of the panel between the crimp lines beingplane, the plane sections being angularly disposed to each other, the half ridge sections being provided along the marginal edges with inter-locking depressions, one'of said marginal edges being ofiset by the thickness of the sheet.

6. A frameless building construction comprising vertically disposed wall sections and angularly disposed roof sections, said wall and roof sections being constructed of panels of identical cross section, each of said panels including a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion and on either side thereof half of a ridge portion, said panels when joined in side-by-side relation forming a continuous corrugated section, said wall sections and said roof sections being joined together with the troughs of the roof section being in alignment with the troughs of the wall section and the ridge of the roof section join the ridges of the wall section whereby the ridges and troughs are continuous over said wall and roof sections.

7. 'A frameless building construction comprising vertically disposed wall sections and angularly disposed roof sections, said wall and roof sections being constructed of panels of identical cross section, each of said panels being bent along transversely spaced longitudinally extending lines providing a plurality of longitudinally extending planes, said planes being angularly disposed with respect to each other to provide a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion and on either side thereof half of a ridge portion, said panels when joined in sideby-side relation forming a continuous corrugated section, said wall sections and said'roof sections being joined together with the troughs of the roof section being in alignment with the troughs of the wall section and the ridges of the roof section join the ridges of the wall section whereby the ridges and troughs are continuous over said wall and roof sections.

8. A frameless building construction comprising vertically disposed wall sections and angularly disposed roof sections, said wall and roof sections being constructed of panels of identical cross section, each of said panels including a longitudinally and centrally disposed trough portion and on either side thereof half of a ridge portion, said panels when joined in side-by-side relation forming a continuous corrugated section, said wall sections and said roof sections being joined together with the troughs of the roof section being in alignment with the troughs of the wall section and the ridges of the roof section join the ridges of the wall section whereby the ridges and troughs are continuous over said wall and roof sec tions, the upper end of said wall section being flanged inwardly the lower end of said roof section being flanged downwardly and fasteningmeans extending through the flanges and the adjacent section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,510 Little Sept. 5, 1916 1,256,905 Kass Feb. 19,1918 1,307,333 Armstrong June 24, 1919 1,983,828 Wise Dec. 11, 1934 1,986,998 Burgess et a1. Jan. 8, 1935 2,007,354 Vass July 9, 1935 2,019,707 Jenkins Nov. 5, 1935 2,114,289 Draim Apr. 19, 1938 2,180,504 Bradfield et a1 Nov. 21, 1939 2,184,113 Calafati Dec. 19, 1939 2,275,037 Watter Mar. 3, 1942 2 ,482,624 Korman et a1 Sept. 20,-1949 2,537,743 Crafton Jan. 9, 195.1 2,641,340 Howe June 9, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Armco Barracks pamphlet, Fig. 7, a copy in 189-1 in Div. 33, received March 25, 1943. 

